Gang-plow.



H. C. CLAY.

GANG PLOW.

APPLIGATION FILED Pm.8.19o7.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

6 SHEETS'ASHEET L H. C. CLAY.

GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION ULEB FEB, s, 1907,

Patented Feb.\9,'1909.

H. C. CLAY.

GANG PLOW.

APPLwA-MUN FILED PEB. e` 190m Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

SHEETS-SHEET 3.

*lyk hamaca F. C. CLAY.

GANG PLOW.

APPLIUATIQN FILED PEBA s, 1907` Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

6 SHEETS-SHBET 4.

711 uc n tot Ha rij l? Y ttommhy H. G. CLAY.

Y GANG PLW.

PPLloA'rxon funn Pma.s,1oo'r.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

wh/wane:

H. C. CLAY.

GANG PLOW.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. a, 1901.

Patented Feb. 9, 1909 6 SBEETS-SHEET E @WVM/manca {Mw/5%. M

50 "20 and 20. connecte UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

HARRY C. CLAY, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA, ASSIGN'OR T0 REEVES St COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, 1NDIANA, A CORIORAIION OF IXDIANA.

GANG-PLOW.

vSpecification of Letters Patent.

remue Feb. e, ieee.

Appltiozfled February 8, 1907. Berti) No. 858,5.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY C. CLAY, a citizen of the United States, residing atColumbus, in the county of Bartholomew and 5 State of Indiana, have invented certain new and'nseful Improvements in Gang-Flows,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to -produce a plowing structure, especially ada ted for use with traction engines, of such c aracter that a large number of plows may be simultaneously drawn, each plow doing its particular work correctly irrespective of the inequalities of the ground, and so that the traction engine will be subjected only to the my invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective View of my improved plow in position behind a traction engine. the plowshares resting upon the ground; Fig. 2 a plan of the structure with parts broken away; Fig. 3 an enlarged plan of a plow unit consisting (in the present rase) of a pair of plow beams, plowshares, an adjusting mechanism, together with the means for connecting the plow unit to the draft frame; Fig. 4 a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3'; Fig. 5, a sectional detail on line 5v5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4; Fig. 7, a sectional detail on line 7-7 of Fig. 4; Figs. 8,

9 .and 10, diagrammatic views of the composite draft frame, showing its flexibility to coliform to variations in the ground: Fig. 11 a side elevation of a desirable form of universal coupling between the draft frame and the traction engine: Fig. 12 a plan in partial horizontal section of sonic of the parts shown in Fig. 11; Fig. 1? a section on lire 13-13 of Fig. l1; Fig. 14 a perspective view showing the apparatus in operation over a humgg and Fig. 15 a similar view showing t hollow.

In the drawings l have shown a composite draft frame com osed 'of two sections p by hinges 21 which form a substantially horizontal-articulation between the two sections of the draft frame.

e apparatus in a It will be readily understood that, if desired, the draft frame may be composed of more than two sections, and that, while the axis of tbe articulation between the two members 20 and 20 is shown in the drawings as substantiall horizontal and as lying at an angle to the ine of draft, such an arrangement is not absolutely essential.

The rear beams 200 and 200 of the draft frame members 20 and 20 respectively, are arranged in alinement at an angle to the line of draft to receive the plows and the member 20 is provided, at its forward end, with a frame 201 which, at its forward end, is provided with a vertical draft pin 203. Pin 203 is adapted to r'eceive fitting 204 provided with a vertical opening 205 which, 1n the line-of-draft dimension is substantially equal to the diameter of the draft pin 203, while in the other horizontal dimension is wider at the top and bottom than at. the middle, as clearly shown in Fig. 13 so that, the fitting 204 being held against an ular displacement about an axis parallel wit i the line of draft, the draft pin 203 may swing in said fitting about such an axis. The upper and lower ends of the fitting 204 are arc-shaped and the vertical dimension of the fitting 204 is considerably less than the distance between the pin plates 202--202, washers 206 being such that, by shifting the said washers to points above or below the fitting 204, the angle of draft u on the draft frameJ may be readily adjuste Fitting 204 is connected by a pivotal connection with the draft beam 24 of the traetion engine, the said pivot 23 lyin horizontally and at right angles to the ine of draft.

The draft-frame member 20 is supported by a pair of traction wheels 207 and 208 while the member 20 is provided with e. traction wheel 201 at a point distant from the hinge connection 21. Of course an suitable supports other than traction whee s may be used, if desired. It will be readily understood that if the draft frame were com osed of more than two members, each of tie additional members would be provided with a traction wheel for sup ort. It will thus be seen that each of t e draft frame members is supported at two points,

yet the construction is such that the comsite draft frame may conform to inequali- -ties in the round, as indicated in Figs. 8, 9, I0 13 am? 14, so that it need be only sutiiciently strong to withstand the pulling stresses occasioned vby the plows. As a consequence, I am able tof'entirely eliminate' i shares 30 and 31 carried by usiiiil'plow Vbeams 30' and 3l respectively, which are referably connected by suitable cross bars 2 so as to form a substantiall Arigid structure. The plow beams 30 an 3l yare rovided at their forward ends with a cevis Vhead 34 of ordinary form, said head being provided, as usual, with a plurality of pinreceiving openings 35 adapted Ato receive a cross pm 36. lin 36 lies 'normall in a notch 37 formed in the upper face o a siiction frame 38 and said pin is normally held in its notch b` one or more lates 32), each of which is he d down upon t e pin 36 by a spring 40. The tension of springs 40 may be readily adjusted by a nut 41 and the varrangement is such that, if the iill exerted upon pin 36 in the line of draft e too reat,

as for instance in case a plowshare stri es a stone or stump, said pin will be drawn out of theV notch 3i', the lates 39 yielding to ermit said action. T e notch 37 is formed in frame 38 at a point intermediate its length and said frame is supported at its rear end on the ground, convenieptly b a tractoii wheel 42. At its forward endy the suction frame is sup orted by a horizontal pivot 43 l ing at rigit angles to the line of draft.

. he pivot 43 is carried by a head 44 which is itself pivotally supported on the vertical Aaxis 45 extending'between the free ends of a pair of draft links 46-46 which are attached at their forward ends to a member of the composite draft frame. The rear cnd of each link 46 is braced by a strut 47 which isof a tiirnbultle type. By adjustingr the turnbuckle-struts the axis 45 may be shifted bodily relative to the draft frame and its ,vertical angle may also be adjusted so that by Vthis' means, the tivo plowshares of a plow unit may be caused to take uniform and eqlual Icuts and properly track relative to the ot ier plow units.

It will be readily understood that, while cupos I have shown ordinary mold-board plows,E

any desired plowin implement may be used and the term p owshares or lows used herein is intended to be su ciently broad to include any desirable plowing or stirring implement.

In order to assist in the regulation of the de th of the cut of the lowshares, I provi e each plow unit with a gage frame 50 which is pivoted at its forward end upon the cross bar 33 and at its rear end carries a ga e wheel 51. The age frame 50 is nor ma ly ur ed downward-by means of a sprin 52 and t e downward movement is limite by the head 53 of a bolt 54 which is threaded up through a bracket55 carried by the forward cross bar 32, the spring beiner held between a bar 50 (pivoted in the frame 50) and a pairof nuts 56 carried on the threaded portionpf the bolt. The upper end of bolt 54 is provaded with a handle 57 by means of which the bolt may be turned so as to thus determine the normal position of the lower side of the a e wheel 51 relative to the lowest part'ot t e plowshares.

In order to lift the plow units out of the ground I provide a lifting cylinder 100 on each member of the draft frame, the piston of each cylinder being connected by chains 101 with a bar 102, connected b short chains 103 with several plow units. he chains 101 pass over pulleys 104 journaled at the upper ends of short masts 105.

In operation ;-the tract-ion engine exerts a pull at a si le point on the composite draft frame an this frame is free to swing to a limited extent upon anyl one of three axes, i.-e., the horizontal pivot 23 at right angles to theliire of draft,.the vertical pivot 203 at right angles to the line of draft, and a horizontal axis parallel with the line of draft dueto the peculiar formation of the perfrlyation 205 in the fitting 204,-so that, no matter what the irregularities of the ground 'may be, the composite draft frame will not flexibility from end to end, transversely of the line of travel. to permit the members of the draft frame to follow the irregularities in the ground'without strain. This flexibility of the draft frame is important in assisting in maintaining the various plowshares at a proper depth in the ground irrespective of irregularities in the surface of the ground.

Each plow unit (composed iii the present other from either rising out of the trail behind the draft frame, no matter how the line of draft thereon may be changed.`

By adjusting the turnbuckles 47, the axis 45 may be arranged either accurately vertically or at such sli ht inclination therefrom as will roperly alance the two plowshares 30 an 31, one against the other, so that each plowshare serves to prevent the round or di 'in too deeply thereinto. l y setting gli pliii 36 in the proper hole 35 of' the clevis heads, the plowshares may be gwen any desired degree of suction and, because the point of connection of the lowbeams with the suction frame 38 is intermediate its length,- tlie inequalities of the ground over which the traction wheel 4.2 of the suction frame travels, will be minlmizeol. By adjusting bolt 54 the gage frameJO may be raised or lowered so as to determine .the depth of cut of the plowshares. The s r ng 52 is suiliciently strong and under suv c ent initial tension to hold the gage frame at' its lowest point under norma conditions but, when a stone or other obstruction is engaged bythe gage wheel, the age frame `may yield to permit the gage w eel to pass over the obstruction without materially affecting the plowshares.

l claim as my invention:

1. ln a plow, 'the combination, with a vdraft -i'rame, of a plow unit comprising a plurality of plows, and a connection between said plow unit and the draft-frame, said connection comprising a pivot substantially horizontal and substantially at right angles to the line of draft, and also comprising a substantially vertical pivot, and` means for adjusting said .last mentioned pivot toward and from vertical.

2.1n a plow, the combinatiomlwith a draft-frame, of a'plow unit comprisin a plurality ofplows, and a.V connection etween said plow unit and the draft-frame, said connection comprising Iapivot substantially horizontal and substantially at right angles to the line of draft, and also comprising a substantially vertical pivot, and means for adjusting said last mentioned pivot to ward and from vertical, and for adjusting pivot bodily transversely said last mentioned of the line of draft.

3. l'n a plow` the combination of a draftframe comprising a plurality of members articulated Vwith substantially horizontal connections atdmatcrially less than a right angle to tte line of draft, and a pluralityof plow units trailing the draft-frame and each connected to a member thereof by ay connection permitting swing of tlie trailing end of the plow unit both vertically and trans versely but preventing movement of the plow unit about an axis substantially coincident with linev of draft."

4. In a plow, the combination of'a draft-` 65 frame comprising a pluralit of members articulated with substantia ly horizontal connections at materially less than a right angle to the line of draft, and a pluralit of plow units trailing the draft-frame, eac of said plow units being attached to a draftframe member by a connection comprising a pivot substantially horizontal and substantially at right angles to the line of draft and also comprising a substantially vertical pivot, and means for adjusting said last mentioned pivot toward an'd from vertical, and for adjusting said last mentioned ivot bodily transversely ofthe line of dra t.

5. In a plow, the combination of a draftframe comprising a plurality of members articulated with substantially horizontal connections at materially less than a right angle to the line of draft, and a plurality of plow units trailing the draft frame, each of said plow units being attached to a draft- 4frame member by a connection comprising a pivot substantially horizontal and substantially at right angles to the lille of draft and also comprisinga substantially vertical pivot, and means for adjusting said last mentioned pivot toward and from vertical.

6. In a plowthe combination of a draftframe comprising a plurality of members articulated with substantially horizontal `connections at materially less than a right angle to the line of draft, and a plurality of plow units trailing the draft-frame, each of saidy plow units .being attached to a draftframe member by a connection comprising a pivot, substantially horizontal and substantially at right angles to the line of draft and also comprising a substantially vertical pivot, and means for adjusting said last mentioned pivot bodily transversely of the line of draft.

T flhe combination, with a composite draft frame comp-rising members articulated With substantially horizontal connections, and suitable sup orting wheels for said members, of a dra t connection at the forward end of said draft-frame permitting universal movement of thc'draft-frame, a. plurality of plow units each comprising a plurality of plows, a suction frame having a. portion resting upon the ground, a substantially horizontal pivotal connection between each suction frame and its plow unit substa'ntially at right angles to the line of draft, yieldingr means for normally maintaining said pivotal connection. and a substantially `vertical pivotal connection between each suction frame and a draft-frame member.

8. The combination, with a composite draft-frame comprisingr members articulated with substantially horizontal connections, and `s :uitable supporting wheels for said members, of a draft connection at the forframe member.

9. The combination, with a composite draft-frame comprising members articulated with substantially horiiontal connections, and suitable supporting wheels for said members, of a draft connection at the for- I ward end of said draft-frame permitting universal movement of the draft-frame, a

plurality of plow units each comprising a plurality of plows, a suction frame for each plow unit, said suction frame having a portion resting upon the ground, a substantiall hoxizontal pivotalY connection between each suction frame and its plow unit substantially at right angles to the line of draft, a substantially vertical pivotal connection between each suction frame and 'a draft-frame member, and means for adjusting said last mentioned ivot toward and from vertical, and for adjusting said last mentioned pivot bodily transversely of the line of draft.

10. The combination, with a composite draft-frame com rising members articulated with substantia ly horizontal connections and suitable supporting whels for sai members, of a draft 'connection at the forward end of said draft-frame permitting universal movement of the draft-frame, a plurality of Ilow units each comprising a plurality of p ows, a suction frame for each plow unit, said suction frame having a por tion resting upon the ground, a substantlall horizontal pivotal connection between eac suction frame and its low unit substantially `at right angles to the ine of draft, a substantially vertical pivotal connection between each suction frame and a draft-frame mem ber, and means for adjusting saidV last mentioned pivot toward and from vertical.

11. In a plow, the combination, with a draft-frame, of a suction frame provided with a traction wheel, a connection between the forward end of said suction frame and the draft frame comprising a substantially vertical ivot and a substantially horizontal i ivot su stantia'lly at riUht angles to the ine of draft, means for adjusting the vertical ivot transversely and angularly relative to t 1e draft-frame, and a plow attached to the said suction frame.

12. In a plow, the combination, with a draft-frame, of a suction frame provided with a traction wheel, a connection between the forward end of said suction frame and the draft frame comprising a substantially vertical pivot and a substantially horizontal pivot substantially at right angles to the line of draft, means for adjusting the vertical pivot transversely relative to the draft frame, and a plow attached to the said suc tion frame.

13. In a plow, the combination, with a draft-frame, 0f a suction frame provided with a traction wheel, a connection between the forward end of said suction frame and the draft frame Vcomprising a substantially vertical pivot and a substantially horizontal pivot substantially at right angles to the line of draft, means for adjusting` the vertical pivot transversely and angularly relative to the draft-frame, and a plow attached to the said suction frame by a substantially horizontal pivotal connection substantially at right angles to the line of draft.

14. In a plow, the combination, with a draft-frame, of a suction frame provided with a traction wheel, a connection between the forward end of said suction frame and the draft frame comprising a substantially vertical pivot and a substantially horizhntal pivot substantially at right angles to the line ofdraft, means for adjusting the vertical ivot transversely relative to the draft rame. and a plow attached to the said snction frame by a substantially horizontal pivotal e connection substantially at right angles to the line of draft.

15. In a plow, the combination, with a draft-frame, of a suction frame provided with a traction wheel, a substantially vertical pivotal connection between said suction frame and the draft-frame, means for adjusting said vertical pivotal connection bodil transversely and angularly relative to the raft-fram a substantially horizontal pivotal connecti n between the suction frame and the drafbframe substantially at right angles to the line of draft, and a plow connected to said suction frame at a point intern mediate the length of the suction frame.

16. In a plow, the combination, with a draft-frame, of a suction frame Jrovided with a traction wheel, a substantially vertical pivotal connection between said suction frame and the draft-frame, means for ad- `usting said vertical pivotal connection odil transversely and angularly relative to the raft-frame, a substantially horizontal pivotal connection between the suction frame and the draft-frame substantially at right angles to the line of draft, and a plo-2`Y connected to said suction frame at a point intermediate the length of the suction frame by a substantially horizontal pivotal connection at right angles to the line of draft.

17. In a plow, a trailing suction frame having a support carried at its rear. end adapted to engage the ground, a trailing plow pivotally connected to an intermediate plow and carried by a member extending forward and pivotally connected to the plow t0 permit vel-Licei movement of the gage Wheri, and yielding means for ur ing said gage whee (,lownwnrd to its norma position.

In Witness whereof, I have hereunto set 10 my hand and sea] at Columbus, Indiana, this 4th day of February, A. D. one thousand nine hundred and seven.

HARRY C. CLAY.

Witnesses:

BELLE DENIsoN, BLANCHE HAMILTON. 

